INTRODUCTION TO CHAKRAS ********************************************************************** THE TEACHERS FROM THE EAST INFORM US THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE "BODY". THEY SAY BESIDES OUR PHYSICAL BODY WE HAVE "SEVERAL SUBTLE BODIES" THAT IS BODIES WHICH CO-EXIST IN THE SAME SPACE AS OUR PHYSICAL BODY BUT ARE INVISIBLE TO OUR PHYSICAL EYES. THESE SUBTLE BODIES ARE PART OF A SUBTLE PSYCHIC ENERGY SYSTEM, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF YOUR SUBTLE BODIES, AURAS (ENERGY RESERVOIRS) , NADIS (ENERGY CHANNELS) AND CHAKRAS (ENERGY CENTERS WHICH ACT AS TRANSFORMERS AND GATES). IT IS STATED THAT IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE PHYSICAL BODY IS COMPOSED OF SYSTEMS OF INTERRELATED ORGANS, A PERSON'S PERSONAL ENERGY FIELD IS COMPOSED OF SUB-FIELDS WHICH ARE INTERRELATED AND AFFECT EACH OTHER. THESE SUB-FIELDS ARE REGULATED BY THE ORGANS OF THE SUBTLE ENERGY SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR THE ENERGY CENTERS CALLED CHAKRAS. PURPORTEDLY THERE ARE SEVEN BASIC CHAKRAS. THE FIRST IS CALLED ROOT CHAKRA. IN SANSCRIT-MULADHARA(ROOT SUPPORT). IT IS LOCATED AT THE BASE OF THE SPINE. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EARTH AND PHYSICAL SURVIVAL. THROUGH IT ENERGY FROM THE EARTH ENTERS THE SUBTLE ENERGY SYSTEM. WHEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, A PERSON FEELS A DEEP ATTACHMENT TO THE EARTH AND THAT THEIR LIFE IS INTERCONNECTED TO ALL LIVING FORMS. IT CONNECTS A PERSON TO THEIR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. PSYCHIC COLOR-FIERY RED-ORANGE RED. THE SECOND IS CALLED SACRAL CHAKRA. IN S-SVADHISTHANA (THAT WHICH IS ITS SELF-ITS ACTUAL PLACE). IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE GONADS AND CONTROLS BOTH SEXUAL AND CREATIVE ENERGY. IT IS THE CENTER FROM WHICH A PERSON EXPERIENCES THE WORLD AS A MAGICAL PLACE AND ONE'S INTRINSIC FEMININITY OR MASCULINITY. THE FLOW OF ENERGY THROUGH IS USUALLY VERY RESTRICTED IN ADULTS DUE TO CULTURE TABOOS AND PROGRAMING. IT RADIATES ALL THE COLORS OF THE VITAL ENERGY -RED-ORANGE-YELLOW -BLUE-VIOLET. THE THIRD IS CALLED NAVEL CHAKRA. IN S-MANIPURA (CITY OF JEWELS) . IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE SOLAR PLEXUS. THROUGH IT FLOWS OUR EMOTIONAL ENERGY AND IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN A PERSONS RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD AS WELL AS TO PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS. FEELINGS OF COMMITMENT AND TRUST ARE REGULATED BY IT. BLOCKAGE IN IT CAUSES FEARS TO MANIFEST. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR CONNECTION TO BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND ETHERIC WORLDS. SOME CALL THIS CHAKRA THE POWER CHAKRA. WHEN OPEN AND FUNCTIONING NORMALLY, A PERSON OBTAINS CALMNESS. FOR MANY IT IS THE SEAT OF THE PERSONALITY. PSYCHIC COLORS-RED AND GREEN. THE FOURTH IS CALLED HEART CHAKRA. IN S-ANAHATA (UNBEATER). ALSO DESCRIBED AS "THE GATEWAY TO THE SOUL". IT IS LOCATED JUST ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE PHYSICAL HEART NEAR THE CENTER OF THE CHEST. IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH TOUCH, COMPASSION AND HEALING. IT IS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT AND LOVE (BOTH HUMAN AND DIVINE). ENERGY RADIATING FROM THE HEART CENTER CAN AFFECT OTHERS IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.IT IS THE GATEWAY TO THE ASTRAL BODY AND REGULATES A PERSON'S EMOTIONAL LIFE, THE QUALITY AND INTERACTIONS OF JOY, PAIN, FEAR AND ANGER. FEAR BLOCKS THE NORMAL FLOW OF ALL EMOTIONS AND ENERGY CANNOT FLOW BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL AND SUBTLE BODIES. PSYCHIC COLOR-BRIGHT EMERALD GREEN. THE FIFTH IS CALLED THROAT CHAKRA. IN S-VISUDDHA (PURE). IT IS LOCATED JUST BELOW THE ADAMS APPLE. THE CENTER OF HUMAN EXPRESSION, IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A PERSONS ABILITY TO EXPRESS HIM/HER SELF FULLY AND CREATIVELY, HEARING AND THE PRINCIPLE OF SOUND. THE ENERGY FROM THE 4 LOWER CHAKRAS CAN BE PROCESSED AND TRANSMUTED BY IT. WHEN FULLY OPENED A PERSON TRANSCENDS FEAR. WHEN FULLY OPENED UNDERSTANDING AND CLARITY COME, AWARENESS THAT THE "INNER WORLDS" ARE REAL WORLDS. THE CHAKRA OF PERSONAL INTEGRITY. PSYCHIC COLOR-SILVERY? BLUE-HINT OF GREEN? THE SIXTH IS CALLED BROW OR THIRD EYE CHAKRA.IN S-AJNA (COMMAND). SOMETIMES CALLED SHIVIA'S EYE OR THE EYE OF WISDOM. IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BETWEEN AND SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE EYEBROWS. IT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO "SEEING" PHYSICALLY, PSYCHICALLY AND PARA NORMAL POWERS. IT IS FROM THIS THAT A PERSON HARMONIZES THE FORCES WITHIN AND ACHIEVES A BALANCE BETWEEN YIN AND YANG. IT CONTROLS ALL HIGHER MENTAL ACTIVITIES, INTUITIVE THOUGHT, RATIONAL THOUGHT AND MEMORY. WHEN FULLY OPEN AND ACTIVE IT IS THE SEAT OF CREATIVITY AND DIVINE INTELLIGENCE. TELEPATHY, HEALING,CLAIRVOYANCE, CREATING ON THE PHYSICAL PLANE BECOME POSSIBLE. ATTACHMENTS DISSOLVE. CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS BEGIN MERGING. TOTAL INTEGRATION OF ALL PARTS OF ONE'S BEING BEGINS. PSYCHIC COLOR-DEEP BLUE TO VIOLET THE SEVENTH IS CALLED CROWN CHAKRA. IN S-SAHASRARA (CROWN) IT IS LOCATED AT THE VERY TOP OF THE HEAD, AT OR NEAR WHERE THE "HAIR SWIRL IS. IN INDIA IT IS CALLED THE THOUSAND PETALLED LOTUS. IT CORRESPONDS TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF POSSIBLE SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. IT IS THE CHANNEL FOR THE HIGHER ENERGIES. IT CAN REVERSE ITS SELF AND RADIATE LIKE A CENTRAL SUN, SHOWERING LOVE AND LARGESS INTO THE SURROUNDING ENVIRONMENT. ENERGIES WHICH ENTER THE CROWN CHAKRA AND ARE RADIATED OUT ARE CONSTANTLY RENEWED. TANTRA TEXTS STATE THAT THE AWAKENING OF THE CROWN CHAKRA CORRESPONDS TO THE FULL UNION OF SHAKTI (FEMININE PRINCIPLE) AND SHIVA (MASCULINE PRINCIPLE. THIS UNION, ONCE FORMED LASTS FOREVER. WHEN FULLY OPENED THE CONFINES OF TIME AND SPACE DISSOLVE. TOTAL UNION MANIFESTS. THIS TOTAL UNION IS CALLED ENLIGHTENMENT (GOD CONSCIOUSNESS) (CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS). PSYCHIC COLOR-ALL-HEAVY IN VIOLET GANASHYAM DAS